Studio News

Eye of the Tiger, 2009, 20" x 15", charocal and Conte crayon. SOLD

I officially joined the WindhamARTS Collaborative, and I am so excited! I will be submitting a proposal for an exhibit soon.

Plans for the Spring include:

* More live Studies at Crossen Arabians.
* Entering some juried shows
* OPEN STUDIOS! Yay!
* And maybe...just maybe...my book on the Arabian horse will be done.


Until then,

Patiently waiting waiting for the daffodils to appear,

Helen

Ginger

"Ginger" 2009. Watercolor paint, watercolor pencil and ink on Arches hot press watercolor paper, 140 lb.

I did this portrait panel for a dear friend of mine, Jenny. She and I lived and worked at Woodcock Hill Riding Academy while we were sudents at the University of Connecticut. We shared the horsey life with a house full of horse crazy girls. We mucked stalls, we picked hooves, we scrubbed water buckets, we wrapped legs, we dropped hay from the loft, and of course, we rode. It was a good life. I treasure my memories from that time.

Ginger, a sweet, doe-eyed chestnut mare with a beautiful blaze, was one of Jenny's treasured equine teachers. They made such a gorgeous and talented pair. Jenny is like poetry on a horse; a true talent. The bond Jenny and Ginger had was evident. They were a team.

Ginger was one of my favorites, too. She loved getting her ears scratched. The "ear thing" would always get the lower lip tremor and the eyes half-closed in bliss.

I loved painting one of my favorite horses. We love you, Ginger!

The Kind Mare

The Kind Mare, 2009, 20" x 22", white and black charcoal and Conte crayon on Canson Mi-Teintes.

This new piece depicts a sweet, kind-faced mare. The large, soft eye, the curious ears, the "Mona Lisa" smile, the engaging and approachable demeanor...I wanted to get it all on the paper. This was a fun drawing to do.

At first, I was bold and and heavy handed with the charcoal (love that charcoal!). Then, I realized it created much too aggressive of a look for the mare I had forming in my mind's eye. I erased out some of the bold lines, softened up her expression a bit, and went back with a much lighter hand. This is the end result.

please e-mail me if you would like to add The Kind Mare to your collection: soundthebuglestudio@charter.net